Controlling means for automotive vehicles



March Z0, 1945. RQCKWELL 2,372,015

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Origin a l Filed March 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l mlh- I INVENTOR r Edward =6. PwC/cwell ATTORNEY March 20, 1945. E. A. ROCKWELL CONTROLLING MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Original Filed March 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N v x v 8 m m y a ..v .n \Q

Q 3. 0% Y 6m P No 1 NMW m 8 m m T mm m i 3 5 Q QMA 1 J 5 m: N: m9 7 NQ 1| .a 5 mm w 3 m9 R iv/f/ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1945 CONTROLLING MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Edward A. Rockwell, West Hartford, Conn.

'Orlginal application March 26. 1940, Serlal No. 326,040, now Patent No. 2,300,136, dated October 14 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to an apparatus designed for controlling the operation of automotive vehicles driven by internal combustion engines or from any other source of power.

This is a divisional application of my application upon Control for automotive vehicles, Ser. No. 326,040, filed March 26, 1940, Patent No. 2,300,136, granted October 27, 1942.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus giving an effective control for automotive vehicles by means of which the manual operation thereof is simplified. A further object is to provide means whereby the manual power applied for operating one or more of the automotive accessories is controlled in such a manner as to initially apply low pressure liquid and thereafter, by gradual increase in the pressure, to subsequently apply a higher pressure liquid to the same. This change from low to high pressure is for the purpose of reducing the distance which the pedal is required to travel, thus keeping the pedal at all times in a position near to the level of the floor-board in which the pedal is mounted. This construction is especially advantages-us as applied to the operation of brakes. A further object is to provide a hydraulic means for moving the apparatus which controls the brake or other device to be moved thereby, the said brake, etc, being provided also with a hydraulic connection so as to produce a. reaction from the hydraulic liquid applied to the brake or other device back to the hydraulic means which operates the controlling apparatus. In this way the extent of the hydraulic pressure applied to the brake or other device is arranged at all times to provide a reaction pressure inv the hydraulic line which operates the controlling apparatus so that the pressure applied to the brake or other device is ascertainable and, furthermore, prevents the application. of unwarrantably high pressures in the operation of the brake or other device. Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description ofthe same hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of being embodied in many difierent forms, by way of illustration I have shown only certain forms thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. l is a diagrammatic perspective of an apparatus made in accordance with my invention;

Divided and 13, 1941, Serial No. 397,8

9tiis application June pressure modified ,my invention I may provide an automobile chassis I having an internal combustion engine Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the-manual actuating unit for controlling the same; g

Fig. 2a is a. longitudinal section of the maste cylinder;

2 arranged to drive in the usual'way rear wheels 3, the front of the chassis being supported upon front Wheels 4. Each of said wheels is provided with a brake-drum 5 havingtwo semicircular brake-shoes 5 pivoted at their lower ends, said brake-shoes being adapted tobe operated by means of a wheel brake-cylinder 1 having two fluid operated pistons 8 therein connected to the upper ends of said brake-shoes in the usual way. Piping 9 connects all of these brake cylinders together and a pipe 10 leads therefrom to a pressure converter II which in turn is connected to a master cylinder I2 by a hydraulic connection. The master cylinder l2 can be any desired type of master cylinder but may, for example, be of the character shown in the Boughton Patent No. 1,997,100, granted April 9, 1935. Or, instead, the master cylinder may be a Loughead construction, as shown in the draw ings, comprised of a piston l5, operated by a rod l4, said cylinder I2 having a port with a storage supply of'fluid-through a pipe H. The piston [5 has longitudinal ports l8 which are adapted to transmit the fluid therethrough due to the suction created on the right in the withdrawal action of the piston i 5, which liquid, in the same way, passes by the lip of a rubber cup l9 which tends to move to the right by reason of a coil spring 20 and which, in the right end of its path, permits the return of liquid by a port 2! to the storage supply. The coil spring 20 rests at the other end upon a valve supporting ring 22. The said ring has therein a. double check portion of said by means of a screw-cap 28 in the pressure converter II. The said cap 28 is carried in the end of a converter housing 29 having a large cylinder 30 and a small cylinder 3| therein. The said cap is furthermore provided with an air bleeder opening 32 communicating with the larger cylinder 30 and is normally closed by a conical end 33 of a screw plug 34 screwed into a screw sleeve 35 screwthreaded into said cap 28. The screw plug 34 has transverse ports 36 therein which communicate with a longitudinal port 31 in the same communicating with the outer air. The plug 34 and sleeve 35 serve to lock the conical end 33 on its seat normally with the aid of a lock washer 38. Within the large cylinder 30 there is a large piston 39 sealed by a sealing ring 40 of rubber or any other desired material, the said piston 39 being normally forced towards the left in Fig. 3 by a strong compression spring 4|, the space to the right of the piston 39 being vented to the outer air by a breather opening 42. The small cylinder 3| carries within the same a small piston 43 integral with the piston 39 and which carries on its right-hand end a rubber seal ring 44. The small cylinder 3| is connected at said end thereof by a screw-threaded coupling 45 to the said pipe I0. The liquid as initially received through the port 21 passes through a ported stop boss 46 until it reaches an internal cylinder 41 within the piston 39. In advance of said cylinder 41 to the left there is carried a sealing gasket 48 cut away at the center to allow a small effective initial pressure tendingto move the large piston 39, the opening in said gasket being slightly larger than the internal diameter of the cylinder 3|, said cylinder 41 having two ported guides 49 and 50. The end of the cylinder 41 has a constricted portion 5| provided with a shoulder 52 for the plug and a shoulder 53 which acts as a seat for a ball valve 54 [pressed into closed position by a spring 55, one end of which is supported within the right-hand end of the smallpiston 43. This ball valve 54 in the retracted position of the large piston 39 is unseated by. means of a rod 56 passing through the cylinder 41 and guides 49 and 50. The said rod 56 is of sucha length that in the retracted position of the large piston 39 the left-hand end of the rod 56 will contact with the face of the boss 46 and press'the ball valve 54 off its seat. In the subsequent movement of the piston 39 to the right the ball valve 54 will become seated due to the movement of the rod 56 away from the cap 28.

The said link |4, for operating the master cylinder I2, is connected to one end of a bell crank lever 51 carried by a pivot 58 on a box 59 having a flange 60 secured by screws 6| to an inclined stationary floor-board 62 located in front of the drivers seat and through which projects the usual steering column 63. Another arm 64 of the bell crank lever 51 is normally under a slight pressure downwardly by means of a tension coil spring 65 connected between said arm 64 and a hook 66 on the box 59. Furthermore, pivoted to said arm 64 there is a pedal 61 having a heelsupporting flange 68 at the lower portion thereof. As indicatedin Figs. 2 and 5, .the pedal 61 is flush with the surface of the floor-board 62. It will be noted that the arm 64 is thus pivoted to the lower portion of the pedal 61, the upper pedal being pivotally connected block 10 to an arm 68:: carried by a pivot 69 on the box 69. The block 10 also rests against the end of a bell crank lever II supported by a pivot 12 on the box 59, to which is condesired type of automatically operating clutch,

as for instance a hydraulically driven clutch, such as is shown in the Lysholm Patent No. 1,934,936, granted November 14, 1933, free from manual control, can be used for this p se. Thus it will be seen that the floor-board 62 is free from the presence of any clutch operating element and the pedal 61 is flush with the floor board 62, giving maxi-mum space for the presence of the drivers feet. However, it will be understood that a clutch lever may pass through'the floor-board 612 with the usual type of clutch but this, of course, could not have the advantages of the other construction just referred to.

Referring to the modified form of my invention in Fig. 6, the construction is the same as that previously described and shown in the preceding figures except in this instance instead of the spring 65 I have provided, for accomplishing a similar purpose to said spring but more effectively; a vacuum cylinder 16 connected by a pipe 11 to said engine manifold. Within the cylinder 16 there is a piston 18 which is connected by a link 19 to an arm which is tight on a shaft 8| on Which the bell crank lever 51 is carried so In the modified form of the converter shown in Fig. 'I, the liquid from the master cylinder enters through a port 82 in a cap 83 on a large cylinder 84. The cylinder 84 has therein a large movable wall or piston 85 provided with a sealing ring 86 normally urged towards the left by ,a strong spring 81 in a low pressure cylinder chamber 88 connected to the outer air by a breather opening 89. The said large piston 85, furthermore, has a longitudinal passageway 90 therein in whichthere is screw-threaded a sleeve 9|, the right-hand end 92 of which serves as a seat for a valve 93 which is connected to a rod '94 passing through the screw-threaded sleeve 9| but smaller than the opening in said sleeve. Upon the left end of said rod 94 there is fixed string 95 as a support for a spring 96 resting at its other end on the sleeve 9| so as to normally move the valve 93 to the left. The ring 95 is adapted to contact with a boss 96:; on the inner face of the cap 83 so as to unseat the valve 93 when the large piston 85 is in the retracted position to the left. At the right the said piston 85 carries a pressure increasing device such as a smaller piston 91 extending through the. end of the large cylinder 84, which latter carries a rubber ring seal 98. This small piston 91 passes, thence, into a high pressure small cylinder 99 screw-threaded to the eviinder ,84. The other end of the cylinder 99 is normally closed by a valve I00 pressed against a seat IN by a spring I02 supported by a ported screw-threaded plug I03. Said valve I00 controls the discharge of pressure liquid through a port i04 into a chamber I05 in a housing I06 connected hydraulically by'openings I01 and I08 to the wheel brakes for operating the latter. The said chamber 105,-furthermore, is adapted to receive a plunger |09 which is sealed in the chamber I05 by a rubber ring seal 0. This small plunger I08 fits in an opening III through which driven and controlled by V brake-drums 5.

4 action towards putting on the eifect of moving the foot up,-

" port 82in the enclosure up a pressure within the cylinder 89 which, howit passes so as to be connected to a supplemental plunger or piston III operating in a cylinder H3 connected by a breather opening I II to the outer air. n the right face of the piston II2 there is a rubber sealing ring H5 and within said piston II'Z there is a end on a screw cap III on the end of the cylinder H3. The spring I I8 provides a yielding support for the piston II! but is so positioned as to normally not unseat the valve I80. The said cap has a threaded opening II8 inwhich there is screw-threaded a fitting II9 connected by a hydraulic line or pipe I to a fitting I2I screwthreaded into the cap 83.

In the operation of my invention, referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, when it is desired to operate the automobile the engine 2 is started in the usual way after which, where an automatic hydraulic clutch is used, no manual clutch operation is required, but the automobile may now be the operation of the single pedal 81. By the tilting of the pedal 61 forwardly at the top the throttle is controlled to accelerate the car and by the release of the same, followed by the tilting forwardly of the lower end of the pedal 61, the brakes will be brought. into operation. This operation of the brakes is brought about through the pressure converter II in the following manner. Initially the liquid delivered from the master cylinder I2 passes into the opening 21 and thence through the passageway 41 past the valve 54 so as to move the brake shoes 8 into a position adjacent the When the manual pressure reaches this point the result is to first seat the valve 54 by moving the piston 39 to the right, gradually forcing for ward the liquid trapped in the small cylinder 3I'. This is followed bythe further movement of the large piston 39 to the right in Fig. 3, thus converting the low pressure of the liquid at the left coil spring IIi seated at the other a and is thereafter increased, I

ever, substantially does not move the large piston 88 due to built-up pressure, however, passes by the pipe I20 for initially moving them into a position adjacent the brake-drums. As this manual pressure in-.

creases, however, the increased pressure on the left face of the large piston 85 will move the latter to the right, thus closing'the valve 93 and thereafter producing a diflerentially greater pressure in the cylinder 99 than in the chamber 88 which is supplied, as. desired, past the valve I00 to the brakes. In this way, due to the gradual opening of the sure increases, a gradual transition from the .initial manual pressures applied for moving the brakes into position is produced, up'to the high pressures produced by the piston 91 used for producing the braking action on the brake-drums. whilea reaction from the pressure in the chamber I05 exerted through the plungers I09, I I2 on the liquid in the line I20 and thus on the manual operating means. 1

There is a reaction from the plungers I09, H2 and pipe I20 as will be obvious from the fact that the liquid in the chamber I05 exerts a re action pressure on the plunger I89 and thence through the pipe I20 to the chamber 88 and thence back to the manual means, and this pres- While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many of said piston 38 to a high pressure liquid at the a right of the small piston 43, and thus supplying the brakes with this high pressure liquid. Upon the release of the brakes the piston 88 returns to its initial position, the valve 54 and allowing an excess liquid to return in the reverse direction to the master cylinder I2. During this action of the brakes the tension spring 85 will have initially partially seated the brake-shoes 8 in position, thus tending to prevent any sudden or sharp action of the brakes, and also preventing delay in the operation of the same by the manual effort that has Also, the spring 88 will exert some the brakes in the final releasing movement of the accelerator.

The modification of my invention shown in Fig. 6 operates in a similar way.',In this instance, however, the vacuum inthe cylinder I8 will take the place of the action of the tension spring 85 to partially initially set the brakeshoes 6. The vacuum in this instance exerts some action towards putting on the brakes when the foot is being finally released from the desimultaneously unseating running. This form of my invention also has due to the spring 20, when the load and vacuum are low, thus acting as a governor.

84 and initially builds changes may be made therein from the spirit of the same.

I claim: 1. A pressure converter comprisinga hydraulic connection for operating the converter, a low without departing pressure cylinder, 9. high pressure cylinder, pistons connected together in said cylinders, an initially open valve having a movable valve element movable with regard to said pistons, adapted to permit the passage initially oflow pressure liquid and close thereafter to supply a high pressure liquid by the movement of said pistons, and hydraulically operated valve means operated by said first mentioned connection adapted to produce a transition'from the low pressure to the high pressure liquid radually.

v 2. A pressure converter comprising a hydraulic connection for operating the converter, a low pressure cylinder, tons connected together in said cylinders, an initially open valve having a movable valve element movable with regard to said pistons, adapted to permit the passage initially of low pressure liquid and close thereafter to supply ahigh pressure liquid by the movement of said pistons, and hydraulically operated valve means operated by said first mentioned connection adapted to produce a transition from the low pressure to the high pressure liquid gradually, comprising a third piston and another valve adapted to be operatedby the third of said first-mentioned valve.

piston initially before the closing the valve 88 being open. The initial valve" I00 as the manual presa high pressurecylinder, pisv liquid and close thereafter to supply a high pres- I sure liquid by the movement of said pistons, and hydraulically operated valve means operated by said first mentioned connection adapted to produce a transition from the low pressure to the high pressure liquid gradually, comprising a third piston and another valve adapted to be operated by the third piston initially beforethe closing of said first mentioned valve, said third piston being adapted to be operated initially before the operation of said other pistons.

4. A pressure converter comprising a hydraulic connection for operating the converter, a low pressure cylinder, a high pressure cylinder, pistons connected together in said cylinders, an

initially open valve having a movable valve element movable with regard to said pistons, adapted to permit the passageinitially of low pressure liquid and close thereafter to supply a high pressure liquid by the movement of said pistons, and

hydraulically operated valve means operated by said first mentioned connection adapted to produce a transition from the low pressure to the high pressure liquid gradually, comprising a third piston and another valve adapted to be operated by the third piston initially before the closing of 80 said first mentioned valve, said third piston being adapted to be operated initially before the operation of said other pistons and said first mentioned valve being located in the high pressure piston. I 85 5. A pressure converter comprising a hydraulic X connection for operating the converter, a low pressure cylinder, a high pressure cylinder, pistons connected together in said cylinders, an

initially open valve having a movable valve element movable with regard to said pistons, adapted to permit the passage initially of low pressure liquid and close thereafter to supply a high pressure liquid by the movement of said pistons, and

hydraulically operated valve means operated by said first mentioned connection adapted to produce a transition from the low pressure to the high pressure liquid gradually, comprising a third'piston and anothenvalve adapted to be operated by the third piston initially before the closing of said first mentioned valve, said third piston being adapted to be operated initially before the operation of said other pistons, said means having a passageway leading to said third piston in which passage the other valve is seated,

and means for unseating said first mentioned valve in the retracted position of the low and high pressure pistons.

6. A pressure converter comprising a hydraulic connection for operating the converter, a, low

pressure cylinder, 9, high pressure cylinder, pistons connected together in said cylinders, an initially open valve having a movable valve element movable with regard to said pistons, adapted to permit the passage initially of low pressure liquid and close thereafter to supply a high pressure liquid by the movement of said pistons, and hydraulically operated valve means operated by said first mentioned connection adapted to prohlgh pressure liquid gradually, comprising a third piston and another valve adapted to be operated by the third piston initially before the closing of said first mentioned valve, said third piston be ing adapted to be operated initially before th operation of said other pistons, said means having a passageway leading to said third piston in which passage the other valve is seated, and said first valve being located in the high pressure piston, and means for unseating said first mentioned valve in the retracted position of the low and high pressure pistons.

7. In combination, valve means for controlling the application of pressure liquid, an enclosure comprising a cylinder containinga movable wall controlled by said pressure liquid and valve means; a master cylinder controlling the movement of the valve means, a hydraulic connection and cylinder receiving liquid provided by the movement of the movable wall so ast be delivered to a part to be moved-thereby, a hydraulic means, including a passageway and a differential piston having a cylinder connected to convey pressure from the piston to said connection and to the said master cylinder adapted to convey a reaction through said hydraulic means to the said master cylinder, and a shut off valve located at and operated by the differential piston for cutting off the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved.

8. In combination, valve means for controlling the application of pressure liquid, an enclosure comprising a cylinder containing a movable wall controlled by said pressure liquid and valve means, a master cylinder controlling the movement of the valve means, a cylinder having a pressure-increasing device connected to said movable wall, a hydraulic connection receivin pressure liquid provided by the movement of the movable wall so as to be delivered to a part to be moved thereby, a hydraulic means, including a passageway and a differentialpiston connected to convey pressure from the the piston to said connection and to the said master cylinder adapted to convey a reaction through said ,hydraulic means to the said master cylinder, and a shut on valve located at and operated by the differential piston for cutting off the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved.

9. In combination, valve means for controlling the application of pressure liquid, an enclosure comprising a cylinder containing a'movable wall controlled by said pressure liquid and valve means, a master cylinder controlling the movement of the valve means, a cylinder having a pressure-increasing device,lcomprising a piston, connected to and having a smaller diameter than said movable wall, a hydraulic connection receiving pressure liquid provided by the movement of the movable wall so as to be delivered to a part to be moved thereby, a hydraulic means, including a passageway and a differential piston connected to convey pressure from the piston to said connection and to the said master cylinder,

adapted to convey a reaction through said hydraulic means to the said master cylinder, and a shut-off valve located at and operated by the differential piston for cutting oil the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved.

10. In combination, valve means for controlling the application of pressure liquid, an enclosure comprising a cylinder containing a movable wall controlled by said pressure liquid and valve 16 means, a master cylinder controlling the moveduce a transition from the low pressure to the ment of the valve means, a cylinder having a pressure-increasing device connected to said 2,372,015 passageway and a diflferential piston connected to convey pressure from said connection to the 9 said master cylinder adapted to convey a reaction through said hydraulic means to the said master cylinder, and a shut-off valve locatedat and operated by the differential piston for cutting oil the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved, said valve means comprising a valve located in the movable wall adapted to initially convey the pressure liquid past the movable wall. r

.11. In combination, valve means for control ling the application ofpressure liquid, an enclosure comprising a cylinder containing a movable wall controlled by said pressure'liquid and valve means, a master cylinder controlling the move-- ment of the valve means, a cylinder having a I pressure-increasing device, comprising a piston.

connected to and having a smaller diameter than said movable wall, a hydraulic connection re.- ceiving pressure liquid provided by the movement ting oil the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved, said valve means comprising a valve located in the movable wall adapted to initially convey the pressure liquid past the movable wall and said shut-oil valve being provided for controlling the flow through the first mentioned valve.

13. In combination, valve means for controlling the. application of pressure liquid, an enclomovement of the movable wall so as to be delivered to a part to be moved thereby, a hydraulic means,

of the movable wall so as to be delivered to a part to be moved thereby, a hydraulic means. including a passageway and a differential piston connected to convey pressure from'said connection to the said master cylinder adapted to convey a reaction through said hydraulic means tothe said master cylinder, and a shut-ofl' valve located at and operated by the diflerential piston for cutting on the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved, said valve means comprising a valve located in the movable wall adapted to initially convey the pressure liquid past the movable wall. I

12. In combination valve means for controlling the application of pressure liquid, an enclosure comprising a cylinder containing a movable wall controlled by said pressure liquid and valve means, a master cylinder controlling the movement of the valve means, a cylinder having a pressure-increasing device connected to said movable wall, a hydraulic connection receiving pressure liquid provided by the movement of the movable wall so as to be delivered to a part to be moved thereby, a hydraulic means, including a passageway and a differential piston connected to convey pressure from said connection to the 'said master cylinder adapted to convey a remeans to the said and a shut-oil valve located at action through said hydraulic master cylinder,

including a passageway and a differential piston connected to convey pressure from said connection to the said master cylinder adapted to convey a reaction through said hydraulic means to said master cylinder, and a shut-oil valve located at and operated by the differential piston for cutting oil the liquid from the master cylinder to the part to be moved. said valve means comprising a valve located in the movable wall adapted to initially convey the pressure liquid past the movable wall and said shut-oil valve being provided for controlling the flow through the firstmentioned valve.

14. A liquid pressure converter, comprising a hydraulic connection foroperating the converter, and a second hydraulic connection leading from the converter to a device for thev utilization of hydraulic pressure, a cylinder, pistons connected together in said cylinder, comprising a relatively large pressure-responsive area and a relatively small pressure-responsive area respectively, means including a valve for effecting a flow of liquid to both pressure-responsive areas initially,

and an additional valve controlling the second hydraulic connection having a piston for actuating the same and having a hydraulic communication with the flrst-mentioned connection, the

.said additional valve also having associated therewith a pressure-reaction area in hydraulic communication with the said second connection.

EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

and operated by the diflerential piston for cut- 

